<figure id="attachment_3133962" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3133962" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-3133962 size-full" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/40fffc77-muhamad-akmal-saleh-pemuda-umno-1.webp" alt="Muhamad Akmal Saleh" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3133962" class="wp-caption-text">Dr Akmal Saleh said voters can take to the ballot to punish the parties of underperforming ministers, who should not forget the promises they made before coming to power.</figcaption></figure>
PETALING JAYA: Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh has defended Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Cabinet reshuffle, saying the new ministers should be given a chance to demonstrate their abilities.
Akmal noted that ministerial appointments are the prime minister’s prerogative, and his selections should be viewed as a reflection of his leadership.
“The prime minister can appoint whoever he considers suitable, including those who are not elected representatives.
“In other words, these ministers represent the prime minister’s image and vision,” he said in a Facebook post today, adding that “there is no need to dispute whoever Anwar chooses to appoint.”
Akmal added that voters can express their dissatisfaction at the ballot box if ministers underperform and fail to uphold the promises they made before coming to power.
“Congratulations to the ministers on their appointments, but this is no time for merrymaking or making irresponsible statements that could disturb public sentiment. It is time to work for the people.
“Remember, this country has laws and a constitution that must be respected. These are not to be violated simply because you are now ministers. If you fail, this could be your only term in office,” he said.
Critics of the new Cabinet lineup include PAS, whose secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan claimed that the appointment of two Chinese leaders to the federal territories portfolio was a deliberate strategy to strengthen DAP’s dominance in major urban centres.
Hannah Yeoh was appointed federal territories minister, with Lo Su Fui from Gabungan Rakyat Sabah as her deputy. DAP deputy chairman Nga Kor Ming retained the housing and local government portfolio.
Takiyuddin argued that concentrating urban power in the hands of leaders from the same ethnicity and political party could raise concerns about an imbalance of power and the direction of national governance.
Critics have also questioned whether deputy higher education minister Adam Adli will be able to implement the waiver of National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loans, which he had advocated for as an activist.

MatchPoint Times

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